Chapter 3 HERE'S THE DEAL

"Ya take care of him. I'm coming right now." She said and picked up her scarf and clutch to leave.

"What happened? Is everything alright?" Ram asked worriedly.

Tears were brimming from Roshni's eyes. "Whatever it is, I'll manage." She said and left.

Ram knew it was something about a patient that's why he rushed straight to the hospital.

His car reached before Roshni's two-wheeler.

Roshni ran straight to the cancer ward where a 12-year-old child was lying unconscious with an oxygen mask and other setup. She rushed to him. "What happened to him all of a sudden doctor? I saw him just yesterday. You said he was recovering. Chhotu get up." She said to the boy her voice choked with tears.

"Ya Dr. But we cannot say anything about this deadly disease you know. Even I never imagined he would suffer another bout of cancer."

"What do we do now?"

"Roshni. I called the Dr who had treated him last time and..."

"Just spill it." She said impatiently.

"Roshni, the Cancer Specialist Dr. Summers, under whom Chhotu's treatment was going on had left for US after he was alright. And he cannot come back. If we want to save him, we'll have to take him to US. Cause Dr. Summers has his case file and knows all about his medicines and treatment."

"Is there no other way?"

"I'm afraid this is the only way. Cause if we chose any other specialist, they will spend a lot of time in studying Chhotu's case and we don't have much time."

Her mind went numb after hearing this and she sat down. It wasn't simple.

"Dr., nurse, please leave me alone." She cried looking at the boy. He was like her brother.

Someone put a hand on her shoulder and turned around to see Ram standing there.

She was not in a condition to argue with him now so she just ignored him. But Ram sat in the chair beside her and said, "I heard everything. I've called Dr. Summers and told him that the patient will be reaching him in few hours. He'll be ready at the hospital with everything. And his flight is in half an hour."

"But-"

"Don't worry. My lawyer would arrange his passport, VISA, and all legal formalities and since the patient's condition is serious, it will all be sorted out easily. Even the cost of surgery is transferred into Dr's account."

Roshni stared at him with a blank face.

"And why are you doing this?" She asked even though somewhere she knew.

He turned towards the door and a lawyer came in. He handed over some papers to Roshni.

"Sign on it." Ram said.

She read the papers carefully and as she had expected, it was a contract marriage papers of her and Abhishek for a six-month marriage.

The truth was, Even Ram could never want a contract marriage. But at this moment, the most important thing was Roshni agreeing to the marriage. Because he knew, once Roshni got to know Abhishek, she would never leave him.

She had no other choice. This man sitting in front of her had ensured her the safety of the child who was her only family. She couldn't deny him. She had to payback.

She took the papers and her hands shivered. She had always respected marriage but today she had to do this. She felt like she was selling herself for money. And for the first time in her life, she realized that even though money is not everything it's really an important thing, a necessity.

She realized that if she thought about it for one more minute, she would change her mind and wouldn't be able to sign on those papers so she quickly signed on them and handed them over to Ram and said, "After everything you said about your son at my apartment and how much I know him from social media, do you really think he'll agree to marry someone like me?"

"Leave this task to me. If he's my son, I'm his father. Just, I'll need a little help from you" he said smiling while Roshni left.

-In Abhishek's office-

"What do you mean you're not continuing this merger because of my reputation Mr. Johnson?" Abhishek snapped.

"Look Mr. Malhotra, if we merge our company with yours, then your reputation will be ours. It would also harm my reputation if you appear in the newspapers with a new girl on the arm every day."

Abhishek huffed. He couldn't change for anybody but if his company was being harmed because of one of his traits, he had to do something about it.

"Mr. Johnson, why are we involving my personal life in it?"

"As I said before, after the deal, your reputation will be mine. And I can't tolerate anybody tarnishing MY reputation." He said sternly.

"OK so what do I do so that you don't stop this merger?"

He sighed. "Your 'Image' needs improvement Abhishek. Have you seen the number of scandals you have been in recently? I think no. But if our companies are one, your reputation affects mine. I want a partner who is taken seriously by the media and-"

Abhishek cut his words, "spare me the lecture and tell me exactly what do I do now. Cause you know I can't change."

"Ya. So, what you do now is that you take the press seriously. For eight to ten weeks or at least 2 months, keep yourself clean. Away from scandals, affairs and... Women. If you could do this, then deal."

But before Johnson could complete, Abhishek already found a loophole.

"So, you mean to say, I just shouldn't be seen with any women IN THE NEWSPAPERS? Right?" He smirked.

Johnson didn't mind. "Yes. That's all. And Abhishek I've never given any such opportunity to any youngster before. For me, it's either a 'Yes' or a 'No'. But seeing what all you have achieved at such a young age; I'm taking this risk. Don't make me regret it."

"I won't. And thank you. you won't regret trusting me."

"OK then. After 4 weeks approx., I'll send you the draft of the contract."

"OK then, I'll take a leave." They had a formal handshake and he left.

Abhishek thought, "it wouldn't be easy, would it?"

To him, women were addiction, Like any other drug. For him, that was the only distraction when he didn't want to think about something. And it became his habit because everywhere he went, women used to throw themselves on him, either for fame, money or any other selfish motive which was one reason he stopped trusting people. He never found any woman trustworthy and when he did, destiny chose to be cruel to him. What people said about him, he least cared.

Ram came in the cabin and Abhishek smiled seeing him. His Dad was his only family. "Dad. I've to tell you something."

"Ya even I have to tell you something."

"No need Dad. I know now you'll say that you have chosen a nice girl to marry me. And then, I'll say that I'm not interested. So, it's better that we don't talk about it." Abhishek said sharply.

Ram sighed. "Beta (Son), why are you so much against marriage? I mean someday you'll have to-"

"No Dad. That day would never come. And women, they are freaking gold diggers. Either they want money or fame. So, I'm not interested. Please don't ever bring this topic into discussion."

"OK. you wanted to tell something." Even though Ram dropped the topic at that time but he wasn't going to give up so easily.

Abhishek told him everything about the deal and the conditions.

Ram appreciated him and left from there. After what Abhishek told him, Ram made a plan. He called someone and told something.

"OK so you got it."

"Yes Sir."

"OK. Call him right now."

Abhishek received a call. It was from the foundation where he donated lacs of rupees every year from his profit for the welfare of poor and orphan children.

"Sir, we have arranged a felicitation ceremony for expressing our gratitude for your help. So please be there. The function will start in the evening. Do come."

Before he could say anything or argue, the call went off.